Bumping into Ricky Hatton at his gym last week, it's clear by his girth that he's enjoying being out of the ring.
But for all the pints of Guinness and Chinese takeaways he's putting away, the Hitman has been working hard in his new avatar as a promoter.
While some of our former world champions do little more than talk about being promoters, Hatton is prepared to put in the hours of hard graft wanted.
He has been slowly building up his stable with talents like former Olympic star Joe Murray and dreams of nurturing his own world champion.
He might have one in Matthew Macklin and the Brummie faces Finn Amin Asikainen for the vacant European middleweight title in Manchester's Velodrome on Friday.
It is Hatton's biggest gig to date and a step up from his cards at leisure centres and recreation halls.
Macklin is coming off a career best win over Wayne Elcock when they clashed for the British title and after making little headway for years, Hatton feels he is taking off.
But for all the pints of Guinness and Chinese takeaways he's putting away, the Hitman has been working hard in his new avatar as a promoter.
While some of our former world champions do little more than talk about being promoters, Hatton is prepared to put in the hours of hard graft wanted.
He has been slowly building up his stable with talents like former Olympic star Joe Murray and dreams of nurturing his own world champion.
He might have one in Matthew Macklin and the Brummie faces Finn Amin Asikainen for the vacant European middleweight title in Manchester's Velodrome on Friday.
It is Hatton's biggest gig to date and a step up from his cards at leisure centres and recreation halls.
Macklin is coming off a career best win over Wayne Elcock when they clashed for the British title and after making little headway for years, Hatton feels he is taking off.
He would be chuffed if Macklin could emulate him by becoming a world champion and says promoting is the next best thing to fighting.
"Winning yourself gives you most delight, but I've always said from day one once you've been a champion, the next best thing is to bring a champion through," said the Mancunian.
"The fact that Matthew Macklin is one of my friends, to do it with him would be absolutely sensational.
"He won the British title from Elcock and he's never looked as good. We've always thought Matthew Macklin can go further than domestic and be a champion, but his career has been on the slowburner a bit. He wants to get a move on and this is a dangerous fight for him."
Hatton, 30, will be as nervous as if he was topping the bill himself and he knows his critics are willing him to fail as a promoter.
"It's a big night for me," he said. "My first promotion on Sky Sports and a European title shot and I feel very proud of me and my team for doing that.
"Let's hope everything goes to plan and we'll be celebrating Matthew being the new European champion come the end of the night."
"Winning yourself gives you most delight, but I've always said from day one once you've been a champion, the next best thing is to bring a champion through," said the Mancunian.
"The fact that Matthew Macklin is one of my friends, to do it with him would be absolutely sensational.
"He won the British title from Elcock and he's never looked as good. We've always thought Matthew Macklin can go further than domestic and be a champion, but his career has been on the slowburner a bit. He wants to get a move on and this is a dangerous fight for him."
Hatton, 30, will be as nervous as if he was topping the bill himself and he knows his critics are willing him to fail as a promoter.
"It's a big night for me," he said. "My first promotion on Sky Sports and a European title shot and I feel very proud of me and my team for doing that.
"Let's hope everything goes to plan and we'll be celebrating Matthew being the new European champion come the end of the night."
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